audio skipping

What is going on with these "technicians" from Cox?  I've read many posts from subscribers complaining about their inability to fix problems.  Is Cox addressing this substandard of knowledge and skills?

Yes, there were splitters which he replaced.  He spent three hours here removing every cable that did not have a TV connected to it.  The boxes had been replaced a few months ago in the attempt to solve this issue.  The audio skipping doesn't seem to be a problem on local channels  but quite often on other channels.  It goes out so often on MSNBC, CNN, Comedy, TLC Bravo & E that it is pointless to even watch those channels.  I do have a booster in my attic which has been there installed by Cox since the beginning and the technician that was here said it needed to stay.

There are splitters which were replaced or removed where no longer needed.  The boxes were changed out recently without any result.  It's only the 2 TV's with the boxes that have skipping.  It is so bad on some channels it is pointless to even watch.  The tech was here last week for 3 hours going through everything and still no results.  I do have a booster in the attic which has been here since the beginning and he removed 3 cables that were going to outlets which were not used.

Bruce said:

What is going on with these "technicians" from Cox?  I've read many posts from subscribers complaining about their inability to fix problems.  Is Cox addressing this substandard of knowledge and skills?

They aren't "technicians" per se. They are installers and Level 1 system trouble-shooters (at best.)

The nature of the problem would require more than a basic look-see.  OP gets a signal.  OP has rebooted, reset and exchanged cable boxes.  The problem only affects audio.  The problem only affects certain channels; moreover, a certain block of contiguous channels:  from Bravo to Comedy Central.  Perhaps a specific range of frequencies?

Since it only affects the cable boxes, I'd suspect a common element to each cable box.  Perhaps the booster in the attic.  Or perhaps a shared component or connection before the signal gets to the cable boxes.

You may need a booster, but this one could be corrupting some frequencies.  From your descriptions, I assume the booster has multiple, independent outputs for each TV.  All cable boxes connect to the booster, so it could be a faulty booster.  I'm sure the "installer" tested the signals to and from the booster, however.

You mention it only affects TVs with cable boxes.  Do you have TVs connected without cable boxes?  Perhaps directly connected to your home wiring?  Do these TVs skip?  Does the skipping occur with these TVs disconnected...the ones without cable boxes?  Did you splice these TVs onto an existing cable?

How long has this been happening...since the transition to all digital?

I'll stab in the dark here.  Are the TVs connected to the cable boxes the same make and model?  Are you using HDMI or optical cables for audio?  Did you buy your HDMI cables at the Dollar Store...meaning cheap cables?  Are your TVs configured to playback in only Dolby 5.1?  Are both TVs connected to soundbars or A/V receivers?

Any environmental changes recently?  Leaks in the attic?  Digging in the yard?  Hammering nails into walls or ceilings?  Sounds of scampering behind the walls?  Odd smells?

You said the technician briefly fixed the problem but it slowly deteriorated again.  That's interesting.  Something is slowly overwhelming your audio signal...either through interference, filtering or processing.